Zeppelin

In the years preceding release by the First World War at the summer 1914, a total of 21 other aircraft zeppelin (of LZ 5 with LZ 25 ) is built.

In 1909, LZ 6 becomes the first zeppelin with being used for the transport of passengers. For this purpose, it is bought by the first airline company Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG (DELAG) . Six other airships are sold with the DELAG until in 1914, and in addition receive names to their numbers of production, for example LZ 11 “Viktoria Luise” (1912) and LZ 17 “Sachsen” (1913). Four of these vessels are destroyed by accidents, the majority during their transfer to the hangar. There is no victim.

Together airships DELAG travel approximately 200  000  km, transporting approximately 40  000 passengers.

The 14 other built zeppelins pre-war period are bought by the army and the German navy, which gives them the references Z I/II/… and L 1/2/… , respectively. During the war, the army changes its method of denomination twice:

• after Z XII , they passes to the use of the numbers LZ ,
• later, they add 30 to scramble the tracks on the figures of total production.

When the First World War bursts, the soldiers requisition also three vessels DELAG. At this time, they already reformed three other zeppelins ( LZ 3 “Z I” included). Five additional is lost in accidents, in which two people perish: a storm pushes the zeppelin of the navy LZ 14 “L 1” to be run in the North Sea, drowning 14 soldiers, and LZ 18 “L 2” ignites because of the explosion of an engine, killing the totality of the crew.

In 1914 the new zeppelins have lengths of 150 with 160  m and of volumes of 22  000 with 25  000  m ³, allowing them to transport approximately 9 tons. They are generally driven by three engines Maybach of approximately 300  CH each one, allowing them to reach a speed of approximately 80  km/h.

the Department Aviation

Since 1913 — after the loss of the airships L-1 and L-2 — , Ferdinand von Zeppelin doubts the value of the airships seriously and starts to be interested in the planes. In 1914, its doubts become a conviction, and it is only under the pressure of the military authorities (requisition of the factories…) that Luftschiffbau Zeppelin continues the development of the airships. Under the direction of the engineer Claudius Dornier, the department “aviation” ( Abteilung Flugzeug called Abteilung C ) of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin , will build between 1914 and 1919 of the Hydravion S whose gigantism does not have anything to envy the airships of the same name.

Series SR-I, SR-II, SR-III and SR-IV, one will particularly retain the SR-III, a seaplane of recognition and hunting for the submarines, of construction almost entirely metal (influenced by Junkers, except for the still cloth-lined wings) whose performances in 1917 were unequalled: payload of approx. 2000  kg, a total weight of 10  600  kg, a speed of 135  km/h with ten men of crew and an endurance of 10-12 hours. Been able to really take part too late in the conflict, he initially escapes the destruction imposed by the Traité from Versailles and is used for the mine clearance of the North Sea, tries in which he will show himself of a very great reliability.

The experience gained with this apparatus will be used then in Dornier in the development of a series as seaplanes (Wal, DO-24) which will be success until after the second world war, and of which some still flew in the years 1960.

Zeppelins in the First World War

Bombers and scouts

The zeppelins are used as bombers during “DER of the ders” but do not show a great effectiveness. At the beginning of the conflict, the German command maintains great hopes for the aircraft, because it seems to have irresistible advantages in comparison with the planes of the time - they are almost also fast, transport more armament, have a greater payload of bombs and a much higher operating range and a resistance. These advantages are not translated in the facts.

The first offensive use of zeppelins takes place two days only after the invasion of the Belgium, by only one aircraft, Z VI , which is damaged by shootings and is forced to make a landing close to Cologne. Two others are cut down in August and is captured by the French. Their use against targets defended well during the day is an error and the high command loses any confidence in the capacities of the zeppelin, transferring them to the air service from the navy for other missions.

The main mission of the aircraft is the recognition above the the North Sea and of the the Baltic, its long range operating made it possible the warships to intercept many allied vessels. During the totality of the war, 1  200 exits as a scout are carried out. The air service of the navy directs also a certain number of strategic raids against the Great Britain, showing the way in operations of Bombardement and obliging the British to level their anti-aircraft defenses. The first raids are approved by the Kaiser in January 1915. The objectives are soldiers but intervening night after the curfew becomes obligatory much of bombs fall randomly into the east from the England.

The first raid takes place the January 19th 1915, it is the first air raid of civilians. Two zeppelins release 50  kg of bombs with strong explosion and the incendiary bombs of 3  ineffective kg on King' S neighbouring Lynn, Great Yarmouth and villages. There are 19 more raids in 1915, releasing 37 tons of bombs, killing 181 people and by wounding 455. British defenses are initially divided between the Royal Navy and the army (the latter takes a total control in February 1916) and a variety of machine-guns of gauge 4 inches (10  cm) is converted into anti-aircraft machine-guns. Projectors of research are introduced, initially with the hands of police officers who confuse clouds with aircraft in attack. Air defenses against the zeppelins are insufficient, suffering especially from the lack of apparatuses of aiming. The first visible successes obtained against the airships are it by bombarding them of a plane. The first man to cut down a zeppelin in this manner is R.A.J. Warneford of the RNAS, stealing on a Morane Parasol the June 7th 1915. By throwing six bombs of 9 kg, it puts fire at LZ 37 above Ghent and is decorated with the Victoria Cross.

The raids continue in 1916, London is accidentally bombarded in May. In July, the Kaiser authorizes the raids directly against the urban centres. There are twenty-three raids of airship, which release a total of 125 tons bombs, killing 393 people and by wounding 691. The anti-aircraft defenses become more effective and of new zeppelins are introduced whose ceiling doubles 1  800  m with 3  750  Mr. to avoid the projectors, these aircraft fly above the clouds as much as possible, descending an observer through the vapor cloud to direct the bombardment. This increased safety is counterbalanced by the additional constraints on the crew and the introduction to semi-1916 of the hunters drawing forwards. The first zeppelin shot down under these conditions is the September 2nd 1916 by W. Leefe-Robinson.

The introduction of effective hunters marks the end of the threat zeppelin. New zeppelins are brought into service which can operate with 5  500  m but by exposing them to extreme conditions of cold, and changes of wind which can scatter many raids of zeppelins. In 1917 and 1918, there are only eleven raids against England, the last taking place the August 5th 1918. The lieutenant commander Peter Strasser, ordering department of naval aeronautics, dies in this raid.

A total of eighty eight zeppelins are built during the war. More than sixty are lost, of which the half per accident and the other against the enemy. Fifty and one raids are achieved, releasing nearly 200 tons in 5  800 bombs, killing 557 people and by wounding 1  358. It was affirmed that the raids are more effective than the damage indicates it by disturbing the effort of war and mobilizing twelve squadrons of hunters and 10  000 men for the anti-aircraft defense.

Technological advancement

Separately the strategic problems, the technology of the zeppelin is improved considerably under the demand pull for the military requirements. Towards the end of the war the Zeppelin company, essaime several appendices in various parts of Germany with hangars more close to the face that Friedrichshafen, providing aircraft of approximately 200  m length and more and volumes of 56  000 with 69  000  m ³. These airships can transport loads from 40 to 50 tons and reach a speed of 100 with 130  km/h by using five or six engines Maybach of approximately 260  CH each one.

By fleeing the enemy shootings, the zeppelins reach altitudes of 7  600  m and are also capable of flights to the long course. For example, LZ 104 “L 59” , based with Jamboli in Bulgaria, are sent to reinforce the troops in German East Africa (current the Tanzania) in November 1917. The aircraft does not arrive in time and must turn over while learning the German defeat vis-a-vis the British troops, but he traversed 6  757  km in 95 hours and thus beaten the record of the more long distance.

End of the zeppelins in the war

The German defeat in the war marks also the end of the German military airships, because the victorious Allies require a complete disarmament of the German air forces and the delivery of all the aircraft like war reparations. In particular, the Traité of Versailles comprises the following articles dealing with the airships explicitement :

Article 198.
The armed forces of Germany should not include military or naval air forces. No airship must be conservé.

Article 202.
During the application of this treaty, all the military and naval aeronautical materials must be delivered to the governments of the main allies and associated capacities. in particular, this material will include all the objects under the following titles which are or were used or designed for fine soldiers:

• Airships able to take off, being manufactured, being repaired or being assembled.
• Factories for the manufacture of hydrogen.
• Hangars and shelters for any aéronef'

The June 23rd 1919, one week before the treaty is not signed, several crews of zeppelin destroy their aircraft in their hangars to avoid the delivery. While doing that, they follow the example of the German fleet which was scuttled two days before with Scapa Flow. The remaining airships are transferred to the France, with the Italy, the the United Kingdom and the Belgium in 1920.

France will use the LZ-114, renamed Dixmude , until 1923 when it will disappear in the Mediterranean.

115 Zeppelins were used during the Great War. Here their destiny:

History after the First World War

First steps towards a rebirth

The count von Zeppelin dies in 1917 and Eckener succeeds to him the head of the company. Whereas the treaty of Versailles eliminated its only competitor serious national, the Schütte-Lanz which operated only for the military airships, the Zeppelin company has considerable problems to manufacture two small zeppelins: LZ 120 “Bodensee” which flies for the first time in August 1919 and, in the two following years transports some 4  000 passengers; and LZ 121 “Nordstern” which is planned for a regular connection towards Stockholm.

However, in 1921, the Allies require that these two zeppelins be delivered within the framework of the war reparations, and like compensation for the airships destroyed by their crews. Other projects cannot be realized because of allied prohibition. That puts temporarily a term at the production of zeppelin.

Eckener and its employees however refuse to give up and continue to seek investors and a way of circumventing the restrictions of the Allies. Opportunity arises in 1924. The the United States of America started to try out the rigid aircraft, by building one, the '' ZR I “WORN Shenandoah” '' (see hereafter), and passing a buying order to England. However the R 38 English, designed to become the ZR II , carries out only disappointing performances. Although it crossed the Atlantique successfully, it is too slow, and its structure does not manage to hold a revision with more powerful engines.

In these circumstances, Eckener manages to obtain an order for the following American airships. Of course, Germany must pay the costs for the aircraft itself, as they are calculated in compensation of the war reparations but for the Zeppelin company, it is secondary. Also engineer Dr. Dürr conceives it LZ 126 , and using all the expertise accumulated during years, the company finally completes the best zeppelin at the date envisaged, which takes off for its first trial flight the August 27th 1924. No insurance company agrees to emit a police force for the delivery with Lakehurst, which implies a transatlantic flight of course. Eckener however is so trustful in the new aircraft which it is ready to risk the totality of the capital of the company and, on October 12th in the morning, the flight begins with him as captain. Its faith is not disappointed and he does not know any difficulty during the voyage of 8  050  km, accomplished in 81 hours and two minutes. Crowd Yankees celebrates with enthusiasm his arrival, and chair it Calvin Coolidge invites the crew calling the new apparatus a “angel of peace”.

Under its new name '' ZR III “WORN Los Angeles” '', it becomes the American airship most prosperous. It operates in a reliable way during eight years until its withdrawal in 1932 for economic reasons and is dismounted in August 1940.

The golden age of aviation in zeppelin

Although the company found its role of leader in the construction of rigid aircraft, it is not yet completely consolidated. To obtain the required funds for the next project is a difficult work in the economic situation of the post-war period in Germany, and Eckener needs two years of action of political influence and work for the public sector to obtain the manufacture of LZ 127 .

Two other years later, the September 18th 1928, the new airship which was named Graf Zeppelin in honor of the count, flies for the first time. With an overall length of 236,6  m and a volume of 105  000  m ³, it becomes largest then Dirigeable.

The initial concept of Eckener consists in using LZ 127 “Graf Zeppelin” at ends of experimentation and demonstration to prepare the way for regular commercial voyages, while transporting passengers and mail. In October 1928, the first voyage to the long course leads the aircraft to Lakehurst, where Eckener and its crew are accommodated with a parade in New York. Then Graf Zeppelin makes the turn of Germany and visit Italy, the Palestine and the Spain. The one second forwarding in the United States falls through in France in May 1929 following a sucession of engine failures (then two then three).

In August 1929, LZ 127 takes the departure of another exploit: the complete circumnavigation of the sphere. The growing popularity of the “giant of the airs” facilitates to the discovery of silent partners “sponsors”. One of them is the American press baron William Randolph Hearst, which requires that the turn begin officially in Lakehurst. From there, Graf Zeppelin flies towards Friedrichshafen initially, continuing towards Tokyo, Los Angeles and return to Lakehurst. The voyage lasts 21 days, 5 hours and 31 minutes. Including displacement before and afterwards between Lakehurst and the point of origin, the airship had travelled on 49  618  km.

The following year, Graf Zeppelin undertakes several ways in Europe, then, after a displacement in South America in May 1930, it is decided to open the first regular transatlantic line. In spite of the beginning of the Great depression and a competition growing by the planes, LZ 127 transports a growing number of passengers and mail above the ocean each year until in 1936. Moreover, the aircraft ensures, in July 1931, a scientific voyage in Arctique; that was a dream of the count before twenty years, but which could not have been carried out with the release of the war.

Eckener wants to add to the success of this aircraft another similar envisaged like LZ 128 . However the catastrophic accident of the British airship '' R 101 '' in 1931 carries out the Zeppelin company to question the safety of the vessels filled with hydrogen, and this choice is abandoned in favor of a new project. LZ 129 will advance technology considerably and will be filled with Hélium.

The twilight

However, starting from 1933, the installation of the dictatorship Nazi E on Germany starts to obscure the businesses of the company. The Nazis are not interested by the ideal of Eckener to join people peacefully; knowing very well that the airships would be unusable in a war, they prefer to develop the technology of the planes.

On another side, they are impatient to exploit the popularity of the aircraft for their Propagande. As Eckener refuses to cooperate, Hermann Göring obtains the monopoly. The zeppelins must from now on post in a very visible way the Swastika Nazi on their ailerons and sometimes make to the turn of Germany for endoctriner the people with larguages of leaflets, musics of steps and speeches thundering since the sky.

The March 4th 1936 LZ 129 “Hindenburg” , named according to the president of Germany Paul von Hindenburg, makes its first voyage. However with the new Eckener political situation did not obtain helium to inflate it. Only the United States has rare gas in rather great quantity and they imposed a military embargo. Consequently, the Hindenburg is filled of flammable Hydrogène like these predecessors. With share of the missions of Propaganda, LZ 129 begins on the transatlantic lines with the Graf Zeppelin .

The May 6th 1937 whereas it lands in Lakehurst, the nose of the aircraft which is close to a pylon of fastener takes fire, and in a few seconds the zeppelin blazes up. The causes of the Catastrophe of Hindenburg remain unknown; however speculations of sabotage are numerous (implying as well the Nazis as their enemies), the majority opinion tends to support the theory of an accident, where the new coating of the airship would have played a role-key. 35 of the 97 people present at edge perished, plus a person on the ground.

Whatever is the cause, the fire puts an end to this type of transport for a long time. The confidence of the public in the safety of the airships is shaken, and to make fly of the passengers in vessels filled with hydrogen becomes unthinkable. LZ 127 “Graf Zeppelin” is withdrawn from the service two days later and accomplishes a last noncommercial flight the June 18th 1937 and becomes a museum. Eckener continues to try to obtain helium for the similar aircraft LZ 130 “Graf Zeppelin II” , but in vain. The new flagship is finished in 1938 and, again filled hydrogen, makes some trial flights (the first the September 14th), but it never transports of passenger. Another project LZ 131 , which is intended to be even larger never progresses beyond some rings of skeleton.

The final end comes with release from the Second world war. In March 1940, Göring orders the destruction of the remaining vessels, and the pieces of Aluminum go in military industry.

Other comparable airships

The first airship built by the Americans is the “WORN Shenandoah” (“girl of stars”, with ZR being for “ Zeppelin Rigid ”) which flies in 1923. The vessel is baptized the August 20th in Lakehurst and is the first to use helium. It is tested in flight the September 3rd. It can transport a great quantity of fuel to make 8  000  km at the mean velocity of 90  km/h. Helium is so rare at this time that the Shenandoah contains almost all world reserve. Also when the Los Angeles is delivered, it is with the departure filled with helium of the ZR I .

Later, a series of crashes with deaths puts an end to construction in the United States of the “Zeppelins”.

Recent developments

Economically it is enough surprising, even in the years 1930, that the zeppelins can be in competition with the other means of crossing the Atlantique. Their advantage is to transport definitely more passengers than the planes of the time, while providing approval comparable with the luxury of the voyages in the steamers. Less important, technology is potentially more effective for consumption than the Avion S (heavier than the air). On another side, its use is very demanding in particular as a personnel. Often the crew is more numerous than the passengers on board, and of the important teams are necessary to contribute on takeoff and the landing. And, to shelter zeppelins like Hindenburg, of large hangars are necessary.

Nowadays with large planes, fast and effective it is, it is the least which one can say, difficult to justify that enormous aircraft can operate with profit in regular transport of passengers again, even if the idea of a relatively slow and “majestic” cruising at relatively low altitude kept certainly a certain seal.

There were niches for the aircraft during and after the Second world war, such as for example of the observations of long life and the Publicité; this however generally needs only for small and adaptable aircraft, and with the principal advantage of the Design “with the zeppelin” to build very large vessels able to raise very heavy loads, these functions being filled generally well better with the least expensive Blimp S.

It was suggested periodically that the concept of the zeppelin could have been interesting for the transport of the goods, in particular for the delivery of the heavy loads with bad infrastructures. One of the most recent companies of the kind was the project Cargolifter , with a design hybrid (thus not entirely zeppelin), even larger than the Hindenburg . Towards 2000, this test had become rather consistent, with an enormous hangar set up in Briesen-Brand, some 60  km in the south of Berlin. However in May 2002 the ambitious project missed treasury and the company had to ask for liquidation. In the years 1990, the successor of the company of origin to Friedrichshafen, the Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GMBH , had started again the construction of aircraft with more reasonable objectives. The first experimental aircraft named Friedrichshafen of the type Zeppelin NT stole in September 1997. Although larger than the ordinary blimps, the “Neue Technologie” Zeppelins are much smaller than their giant ancestors and are not of the zeppelin type in the traditional direction, but only of the semi-rigid hybrid aircraft of high technology. Separately the larger payload, their principal advantages compared with the blimps are a higher speed and an excellent maneuverability. However the Zeppelin NT manufactured in series and is exploited with profit for ludic walks, flights of research and applications similar.

At the end of October 2004, a NT which must be delivered to the Japan reached 111,8  km/h.

Mail

The history of the zeppelins is of a special interest for the collectors of stamps. Of 1909 until in 1939, the zeppelins transported Courrier during their transatlantic flights, including covers (envelopes with stamp S attached and cancelled) prepared by and for the collectors. Many nations emitted stamps zeppelin at Grand Prix in the intention of the passage by the mail of the zeppelin. Among rarest of these covers zeppelin are those transported during the fatal flight of the Hindenburg ; those which survived were burned along the margins, and of a price reaching several thousands of dollars. See Mail zeppelin for more details.

Cinema

The zeppelins also occasionally inspired by works of fiction. Notable examples:

• Zeppelin (the United Kingdom, 1971) - a film in connection with a mission by a German zeppelin during the first war and a British pilot born German facing conflicts of honesty. Directed by Etienne Périer.

• the Odyssey of Hindenburg (the United States, 1975) -- a Film catastrophe on the tragic voyage of LZ 129 , based on an intrigue (rather improbable) of sabotage. Directed by Robert Wise, with George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft and others.

Although not being more this time in the center of film, the zeppelin makes however an appearance noticed in the third shutter of the series Indiana Jones.

See too

Internal bonds

• List of the aircraft of the Navy of the United States of America
• Airship
• Air crash

External bonds

• the '' Zeppelin NT ''
• the museum Zeppelin with Friedrichshafen
• company dedicated to the production of blimps
• Old Postcards from Brazil Zeppelin in Brazil